We Gather, Bound by Song

Deerfield has a long tradition of song, from “Sunday Sings” with Mr. Boyden and required Glee Club auditions through the 90s, to the pop a cappella groups the Mellow-D’s and Rhapso-D’s today.

Once a week School Meeting begins with the singing of one of Deerfield’s school songs, and at every Sunday sit down dinner the whole school comes together and sings the Evensong. During the spring term, as seniors prepare to graduate, they are called upon many times to join in the Evensong. Even at the Academy’s annual Investiture event, alumni, parents, and students gather at sunset to sing the Evensong together. All these songs hold very special meaning for students, alumni, and faculty alike:

The Deerfield EvensongWords by Richard Warren Hatch
Music by Ralph Herrick OatleyFar beyond each western mountain
Gleam the fires of dying day;
Softly from each hidden fountain
Flows the river on its way.
All the valley lies in splendor
Hushed before the coming night;
From a hundred ancient windows
Flashes back the sunset’s light.

Now the meadow-wind’s soft whisper
Stirs the old elm’s silhouette,
Bends each leafy tower above us,
Caught in evening’s dusky net.
Now the day is done with striving;
Let the heart hold memory bright;
Soon these halls and fields we’re leaving—
Raise we song before the night.

Let the circling night be softened
By the ember’s last faint glow;
In the firelight we will gather
Bound by song before we go.
Deerfield Days are days of glory,
Memory lives in every one;
Let no other name be spoken
Till the even-hour is done.

The Deerfield SongWords by Ralph Herrick OatleyHer sons and daughters rally
In thoughts of Deerfield days,
When in Pocumtuck Valley,
We sing their songs of praise,
Deerfield, Deerfield, Deerfield, Hail!

New laurels we’ll bring to thee,
Won on life’s field;
Honor and victory, to thee we will ever yield.
Let’s pledge loyal hearts again;
Come now with all your might,
And sing to the glory of the Green and the White.

And once again our voices
We lift to praise her fame.
Each loyal heart rejoices
In glory of her name.
Deerfield, Deerfield, Deerfield, Hail!

Deerfield! Go onward marching,
Loyal though win or lose,
And though the odds may be great
We’ll fight for vict’ry
Vict’ry for you we choose.
Fight down the fields of green, now!
(Our foes) shall vanquished be.
For we will back you to stand
With the best in the land
Old Deerfield! We’re cheering for thee.